❌SOLD❌ G W Barry 30-12 Koa 000+ Steel String Guitar 2016

Brand: GW Barry

Instrument Categories: 12 String, Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD

G W Barry 30-12 Koa 000+ Steel String Guitar 2016 Soundport View

G W Barry 30-12 Koa 000+ Steel String Guitar 2016 Full Front View

G W Barry 30-12 Koa 000+ Steel String Guitar 2016 Full Rear View

As we continue the celebration of 30 years of G W Barry Guitars at The Twelfth Fret, our second guitar in the Barry 30/12 collection is a 000+ model featuring a Bearclaw Sitka Spruce top and a deeply figured Hawaiian Koa back and sides set. Upon first glance at the breathtaking wood grains and tasteful appointments of this guitar, it is easy to get lost in its visual elegance. However there are so many sonic design elements going on here that your jaw will drop a second time as soon as you strum the first chord!

Until the 1930’s, twelve fret to body joint guitars were the norm. At that time the popularity of the banjo, with its longer neck, created a demand for more access to the upper frets of the guitar. The recent resurgence of interest in these guitars is easy to understand. Shifting the bridge back to a more central location between the lower bouts enhances the various vibrating modes of the top, creating an airy openness devoid of the natural ‘compression’ found in 14 fret instruments.

The Barry 000+ takes full advantage of the 12 fret design with an individually voiced top. The slightly oversized body adds air volume and is assisted by a sideport that allows for quicker air dispersion, creating a more active top. Using only billet split Adirondack Spruce bracing the over all deflection of the top is ‘dialed in’ to enhance its full spectrum of tonality.

The amber colour,ripple and depth of appearance in this set of figured Koa is eye-catching — but that is only part of its allure. Sonically it seems to bridge the appealing traits of both Rosewood and Mahogany. Koa exhibits the crispness and clarity of most Rosewoods, and adds the warmth, thick tone, and airiness that mahogany possesses in its mid-range qualities.

Occurring mostly in much older trees, bearclaw figuring is a reliable indicator of a stiffer and richer piece of Spruce. This added stiffness and density increases velocity of sound, and when paired with Koa the overall tonal effect can truly be described as expansive.

The comfort level and responsiveness of this guitar seamlessly intertwines with a rich clarity and depth of sound I rarely experience on flat tops. Hats off to you Mr. Barry for a truly exceptional guitar!

-Micheil Gray

Thanks to Patrick Keenan and David Wren for photos and graphics.

Here are two clips of Dave Martin from The Twelfth Fret School of Music demonstrating the G W Barry 000 Plus Koa guitar.